Folding box.



Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

- 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Witnesses:

W. C. KITT.

FOLDING BOX. APPLICATION FILED JAN-28.1918.

Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

06722102 a-MQ w. c. KITT. FOLDING BOX. APPLICATION HLEP JAN-28.19l8-Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- itnessw':

WILLIAM C. KITT, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE KIT PAPER BOXCOMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

FOLDING BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. at. 1919.

Application filed January 28, 1918. Serial No. 214,126.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. Kri'r, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding asimple and inexpensively constructed box of this character provided withmeans whereby the box may be easily handled, and means whereby the boxmay be readily brought into condition for remaining in an uprightposition for reception of its contents, and whereby it may .be readilyopened and closed in packing and unpacking. My improved folding box isespecially suitable for the shipment of eggs, but it will be understoodthat I contemplate using it whereever applicable. 7

My invention consists in the combination of parts and in the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts as willhereinafter be more fullydescribed and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folding box constructed according tomy invention, the box being shown closed ready for handling andshipping;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the box opened for packing and unpacking; I

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the box entirely unfolded;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the box in partly folded condition tobetter illustrate the process of folding the box into upright position;

Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of a 'box in closed condition illustrating amodification of my invention; f I I Fig; 6 is 'a' partial view cimilarto Fig.

but 'illustr'ating"th'e construction of the box shown in Fig. 5;"

Fig 7 is a verticallongitudinal section on a plane'c'orresponding' tothe line 7-7 of Fig.'6; andl i i Fig. 8 is ajdetail perspective view ofpart of the clasp used in themodified construction shown in Figs! wand7; As I. prefer to constructmy improved folding box, and as-shown inFigsa l to 4,

inclusive, the entire box except the means for fastening its endstogether and the means for fastening its top closure is made of a singlepiece of flat material. It will be understood that this material may beany that is suitable for the purpose. For instance, .it might be sheetmetal or fiber or veneer; or it may be comparatively thin paste-board orcard-board or other thin material of comparatively little strength. Butmy invention is especially adapted for being constructed of materials ofconsiderable thickness which are not susceptible to much complicatedfolding, as, for instance, heavy fiber or paper-board; and moreespecially the kind of paper-board that is made up of outerflat layerswith a corrugated layer interposed. Such material is well known to-be ofgreat strength in proportion to its weight; has admirable cushioningproperties, and is capable of being scored -by pressure as distinguishedfrom partial cutting, and may thereby receive simple straight bendswithout materially lessening its strength It will, therefore, beunderstood that the single sheet is of practically any suitablematerial, although the last named is adapted to be used according tomy'invention with greater facility than known.

The single sheet 1 which would originally.

be plainly rectangular, has parts cut away near its four cornerswithslits 2 extending a short distance inward longitudinally thereofshort distances inward from the sides, leaving awider and longer middlepart 3 at each end flanked by narrower and shorter parts 4. Also, shortdistances from the transverse median line of the sheet at each side arepairs of slits 5 extending transversely of the sheet very slightlyfarther than longitudinal lines passing through the slits 2 at therespective'sides. Thus,

longer and wider middle parts 6 are left at I each side of the sheetflanked by parts 7 continuous with the parts l. I I

a The longer and wider parts 3at the ends preferably have their cornerscut away so that the outer ends 8 roughly. conform to a' curve ofcomparatively large radius.

Slightly inward from each of these ends 8, 1 in the middle of eachpart 3are cut :el0n- -gated openings 9. Farther inward, and

each a short=distance inward from the respective slit 2 at that side,areslots 10,

7 short but wide tongues 13 adjacent to the outer corners of therespective parts 4.

The middle lateral parts 6 have punched in each one of them four holes14 lying in pairs on opposite sides of the median transverse line of thesheet, the holes of each pairbeing in alinement longitudinally of thesheet; one pair being located a short distance transversely away fromthe outer edge of the respective part 6 .and the other pair beinglocated about the same distance transversely away from a line drawnlongitudinally of the sheet through the inner ends of the slits 5. Eachone of the parts 7 has two holes 15 punched in it a short distanceinward from the outer edge of the respective part 7 and in alinementlongitudinally of the sheet;

the one hole '15 being spaced a short distance longitudinally of thesheet away from the adjacent slit 5, and the other hole being spacedabout the same distance away from the line drawn transversely of thesheet through the inner ends of the slits 2.

The exact location of these holes 14 and 15, as indicated by therelation the holes 15 are to have tothe holes 14, will be later de- Iscribed; as will also the relation of the slots 10 to the tongues 13. ia

With the sheet thus cut and provided with the openings, slots and holes,properly located as just described, and as will be further described,the sheet is folded upwardly (that is in the direction downward throughthe drawing as shown in Fig. 3) on allof the broken lines except thelines 16 that run transversely of the parts '3 just inward from theinner edges of the slots 10 therein. Thus, the downward folding on thetransverse lines 17 coincident with the slits 5, and onthe longitudinallines 18 coincident with the inner ends of these slits 5 define therectangular bottom 19 of the box. The parts 6 outside these lines 18and" between the slits 5 become the inner thicknesses of the ends of thebox. .The downward folding on the transverse lines 20 coincident withthe inner ends of the slits 2 and the downward folding on thelongitudinal lines 21 coincident with these slits 2 define therectangular sides 22; leaving parts 23 between the lines 20 and thelines 16 on which the folding is upward, these arts 23 together makingup the top of the box;

, while the extreme outward parts past the these various parts cometogether in the folding operation is clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The holes 14 and 15 in the parts 6 and 7, respectively, as beforealluded to, are so located that when the parts are thus properly-foldedtogether, the'holes 14 of upper pairs will register with upper holes 15,and

the holes 14 of lower pairs will register with lower holes 15 in therespective parts 7-, which, as'will be seen, come outside the parts 6with the edges of these parts 7 abutting or at least coming closetogether. With the holes thus registering in the part 6 and the twoparts 7 at each end of the box, suitable fastening means may be readilypassed through the registering holes to secure the parts 6 and 7together. As shown in Fig. 2, this fastening means is in the form of astring 25 suitably laced through the holes and tied preferably on theoutside. of the box as at 26. The string 25 is especially adapted forthis purpose when the box is made of paper, paste-board or any kind ofcorrugated paper-board; and in practice an ordinary shoe string servesthis purpose "very well and is readily inserted through the openings;the end parts of the string preferably being cut ofl when the tying at26 is completed. However, it will be understood that either with thesematerials or other kinds'of materials where a string might not besuitable, any other suitable fastening means may be used to fasten theend parts 6 and 7 together. Also the numher and location of the openings14 and 15 may be varied; or, under certain circumstances, openings neednot be provided but the fastening means of suitable character may beinserted through the parts, thus making the openings as the fasteningmeans are inserted. 1

As before stated, the parts 4 lap over the adjacent end portions of thetop-forming parts 3; and it is the purpose of these parts v4 to completethe fastenlng at the top of the box.

They perform this function by having their tongues 13 inserted into theslots 10; and it will be understood that the tongues 13 and slots 10 areso relatively proportioned and located that this insertion may bereadily accomplished, as shown in Fig. 1.

With certain rigid materials, or where great security of fastening isnot required, the insertion of these tongues 13 into these ner ends ofthe slits 2' are in the sheet 1, as

slots 10 may bedepended upon-as the sole fastening means at the top..However, for most pur oses and especially vwhere paper or paper-' oardis the material ofthe sheet 1, it is preferable to have additional andauxiliary fastening means. As here shown, these consist of oblong pieces27 which may be of any suitable material, such as metal, wood, 'fiber,paper-board or the like, each with a longitudinal slot 28 through whichpasses a suitable fastener or rivet 29 into the respective part 4; thusslidably mounting the fastening piece or bolt 27 on the upper side ofthe part 4. This bolt 27 is so mounted in this way that it issubstantially alined with the respective tongue 13 transversely of thesheet, so that when the folding of the box is completed, it may slidetransversely of the box through the respective slot 10 above where thetongues 13 project into the slot and, passing out on the other side,extend over the opposite tongue 13' at that end of the box. Inaccordance with this purpose, the part 4 at one side is provided withthis bolt 27 at one end of the him, while the opposite part 4 at thatend is not so provided; and at the other end the bolt 27 is preferablyprovided on the part 4 at the opposite side while its opposing part 4 isnot so provided. It will be understood, however, that the relativelocation of these bolts at the opposite ends of the box is of minorimportance; as is also the exact form of these fastening means; theessential requirement so far as the necessity of provid-.

ing auxiliary fastening means extends, being that some means be passedtransversely through the slots 10 and engage the upper sides of bothparts 4 at a respective end of the box when'these parts 4 are foldeddown on the top-forming parts 3.

In Figs. 5' to 8, inclusive, I show a modification of my invention whichis chiefly con-. cerned with this auxiliary fastening means; and alsoconcerns the fastening together of the lapped end parts of the box. I

In making this modified box, thesheet 1 wlould be cut and foldedas thesheet 1 in the first example," except that tions of its corner partswould e cut away so as to leave no part 4; the transverse cutting linesat the corners being where the in-.

shown in Fig. 3. Also, instead of the holes 14 and 15 in the parts 6 and7, the modified corresponding parts7 have short slots 15' of such numberand so located as to cooperate with a clasp 3O fastened on the lower orouter side of theinner end part 6' (Fig. 6). 60

As here shown, this clasp 30 comprises an elongated flat body 31 havinat each-side a plurality of integral latera ly projecting lugs 32,. andhaving at suitable intervals in its interior suitably shaped prongs 33-pressed out from its material; these prongs reater porbeing adapted topass upwardly or inwardly I through the material of the part 6 and beclenched on the upper or inner side thereof,

. as seen in Fig. 7. Thus, the body part 31 is fixed to this inner endpart 6 in'a median position on the outer surface thereof to extend upand down thereon with its lateral lugs 32 adapted to be bentsubstantially at right angles to the body 31. The seriesv of lugs 32 atone side of the body 31 are, with the slots 15' in the outer end 7 ofthe box properly located therein, adapted to extend through these slots15 in the respective parts 7 while the series of lugs 32' at the otherside of the body 31 in'like manner extend through such properly locatedslots 15 in the other part 7 Thus extended through, they are bentinwardly across the outer sides of the parts 7 and firmly clasp theparts 7 to the part 6.

Each of these lugs 32 preferably compart 32 serves to cause the lug 32to bend abruptly at sald junction when the clasping operatlon isto becompleted; while by having the concave side against the clamped surface,the periphery of the part 32" is caused .to embed slightly in theclamped material all around and thus afford a better clamping effect, aswell as present a neater appearance, and be less liable to act as' anobstruction on the exterior of the end of the finished box.

The clasp body 30 serving with its lugs 32 to clasp'the end parts of thebox firmly together, also serves for" supporting the means that fastensdown the top-forming parts 23 of the box As-here shown, this latterfastening means comprises a plate 34 hinged to the upper end-of theclasp body 30 and having a middle slot 34 extending from its free endtoward the hinge. The plate 33 is thus adapted to swing down over thetop-forming parts 23 after. they are folded downtogether across thetopofthe box; the upstanding handle-formingparts being received intheslot-34. Near. the free end of this plate'33 at onexside ofthe slot34, a-flat U-shaped element35 ispivoted to swing transversely' through.the adjacent slots 10 of the handle-forming parts when the'plate 33 hasthusbeen swung down; and

the part of the plate '33at' the opposite side "of the slot-34preferably has a small-tongue 36 pressed up out of its material underwhich the free end of the element may engage, as shown at the right,inFig. 5. The plate 34 and the upper part of the clasp body 30 to whichit is hinged are preferably made amply Wide to afford a suflicientlystrong hinge joint. It ,will be understood that these parts 30,34 and 35may beconveniently made out of any suitable sheet metal.

It will likewise be understood that either the clasp part may be usedwithout the hinged fastening plate for the top; or, such a fasteningmeans for the top may be provided without the specific clasp for the endparts;

in either case any other suitable top-fastening or end-fastening meansbeing used, such for instance, as the other examples given herein.

The sectional view in Fig. 7 shows smaller containers 37 inclosed in thebox with a horizontal partition 38 between them; and in Fig. 2, the boxis shown as having a longitudinal vertical partition 38 along itsmidresult of the construction including the. end

thicknesses 6 or 6' inside the thicknesses 7 or 7 is the supportafiorded for the ends of the top-forming parts 23, since these may restdirectly on the upper edges 39 of these inner end thicknesses 6 or 6when closed, as is clearly shown in Fig. 7, and as is also seen in Fig.2. It will be noted that these upper 'edges 39 lie somewhat below thefolds 24 of the parts 4, so that the thickness of the topforming parts23 is received between these upper edges 39 and the folded-over parts 4;and it is forthe same purpose that the folds 20 are placed slightlyfarther from the ends of the sheet 1 than are the folds 24, as seen inFig. 3 and as hereinbefore described.

The openings 9' in the handle-forming parts are preferably made Withrounded ends and narrower in their middles, as shown, and when theseregister upon the arts being folded together, a very convenlent handleis formed; it being of ample thickness to afford the required strengthand to give the proper surface for a comfortable hand-hold due to theaggregation of the two thicknesses of material thus brought together.While the box is thus provided with double thickness in the handle-part,and in the ends and near the ends of the top where the parts are securedtogether and where the greatest strength is required, there are nosuperfluous thicknesses of material not needed for these purposes; andat no place in the structure is there any necessity for any tightlycompressed folded part such as is necessitated by a constructioninvolving superfluous materlal that must be folded under other parts. Atthe same time, there is no joint or fastening at any corner of the boxwhere it is especially exposed to injury or disruption in the handlingof the container. The bottom edges of the outer end parts 7 or 7 areexposed, but these are immediately adjacent to the closed fold of theinner end part '6 or 6' and the fastening of the end parts is notconfined to this region, but is distributed throughout-the uprightmiddle of the box end where the exposure to damage is at a minimum.Likewise, with the parts or flaps 4 on the top. Their fastening is notdependent uponany outwardly exposed edges, but is provided at the middleunder the protection of the double thickness of theupstandinghandle-forming parts. It will be-seen, therefore, that whilemy improved box orcontainer is of very simple construction, a number ofdisadvantages of such simply constructed containers are eliminated.While I have shown and described certain examples of my invention inconsiderable detail, it will "be understood that I am not limited tosuch specific showing and description, but what I claim as new anddesire to secureby Letters Patent is: 1. In a folding box, a bottom,sides, topforming parts hinged to said sides to meet along the middle ofthe box, upward extensions on the respective parts where they meet, saidupward extensions having openings, ends, parts hingedto said ends andadapted to fold down on said top-forming parts at opposite sides of saidupward extensions, and means on some of said parts 4 that are hinged tosaid ends, to engage in said openings in said upward extensions forholding down said top-forming parts and said parts hinged to said-ends.

2. In a folding box, a forming parts hinged to said sides to meet alongthe middle ofthe box, upward exten sions on the respective parts wherethey meet, having registering openings near re; spective ends of thebox, ends, parts hinged to said ends and adapted to .fold down on saidtop-forming parts at opposite sides of said upward extensions, and'meanson some of said parts that are hinged to said ends, to project into saidopenings in said upward extensions, for holding down said top-formingparts and said parts hinged to said ends.

3. In a folding box, a bottom, sides, top? forming parts hinged to saidsides to meet along the middle of the box, upward exten- 810118 on therespective parts where they meet, having registering'openings near,respective ends of the box, ends, parts hinged to said ends'and adaptedto fold down on bottom, sides, top-' l to sald ends and adapted to folddown on said top-forming parts at opposite sides'of said upwardextensions, and means movably mounted on some of said parts that arehinged to said ends, to be projected into said openings in said upwardextensions, for holding down saidtop-forming parts and said parts hingedto said ends.

4. In a folding box, a bottom, sides, topforming parts hinged to saidsides to meet along the middle of the box, upward extensions on therespective parts where they meet, having registering openings nearrespective ends of the box, ends, parts hinged said top-forming parts atopposite sides of said upward extensions, and means pivotally mounted onsome of said parts that are hinged to said ends, to be swung into saidopenings in said upward extensions, for holding down said top-formingparts.

5. In a folding box, a bottom, sides hinged to opposite edges of saidbottom, outer end parts hinged to opposite ends of the respec tivesides, inner end parts hinged to opposite ends of said bottom, saidinner end parts folding upwardly, and said outer end parts foldingtransversely inward and meeting substantially along upright medianportions of said inner end parts, means to secure said inner and outerend-parts together when thus folded, top-forming parts hinged to thetops of said sides to meet along the middle of the box, upwardextensions on the respective parts where they meet, parts hinged to thetops of said outer end parts and adapted to fold down on saidtop-forming parts at opposite sides of said upward extensions, and meanson some of said parts thus folded down, to enga e with said upwardextensions for holding down said top-forming parts.

6. In a' folding box, a bottom, sides hinged to opposite edges of saidbottom, outer end parts hinged to opposite ends of the respective sides,inner end parts hinged to opposite ends of said bottom, said inner endparts folding upwardly, and said outer end'parts folding transverselyinward and meeting substantially along upright median portions of saidinner end parts, means to secure said inner and outer end parts togetherwhen thus folded, top-forming parts hinged to the tops of said sides tomeet along the middle of the box, upward extensions on the respectiveparts where they meet, having registering openings near respective endsof the box, parts hinged to the tops of said outer end parts and adaptedto fold down on said topforming parts at opposite sides of saidupward'extensions, and means on some of said parts thus folded down, toproject into said openings in said upward extensions, for holding downsaid to -forming parts.

In a folding ox, a bottom, sides hinged to opposite edges of saidbottom, outer end parts hinged to opposite endSj-Of the respectivesides, inner end parts hinged to 'opposite ends of said bottom, saidinner end parts folding upwardly, and said outer end parts foldingtransversely inward and meeting substantially along upright medianportions of said inner end parts, means to secure said inner and outerend parts together when thus folded, top-forming parts hinged to thetops of said sides to meet along the middle of the box, upwardextensions on the respective parts where they meet, having registeringopenings near respective ends of the box, parts hinged to the tops ofsaid outer end parts and adapted to fold down on said top-forming partsat opposite sides of said upward extensions, and means movably mountedon some of said parts thus folded down, to be projected into'saidopenings in said upward extensions, for holding down said top-formingparts.

8. In a folding box, a bottom, sides hinged to opposite edges of saidbottom, outer end parts hinged .to opposite ends of the respectivesides, inner end parts hinged to opposite ends of said bottom, saidinner end parts folding upwardly, and said outer end parts foldingtransversely inward and meeting substantially along upright medianportions of saidinner end parts, means to secure said inner and outerend parts together when thus folded, top-forming parts hinged to thetops of said sides to meet along the middle of the box, upwardextensions on the respective parts where they meet, having registeringopenings near respective ends of the box, parts hinged to the tops ofsaid outer end parts and adapted to fold down on said topformi ng partsat opposite sides of said upward extensions, and means pivotally mountedon some of said parts thus folded down, to be swung into said openingsin said upward extensions, for holding down said top-forming parts.

9. In a folding box, a single sheet of material of generally rectangularshape with slits extending in from its ends and slits extending in fromits sides, substantially equidistant from and on opposite sides,respectively, of longitudinal and transverse median lines, leavingmiddle parts and flanking parts at the ends and sides of the sheet, withthe adjacent side and end flanking parts integral, the side flankingparts projecting laterally less than the width of the respective middleparts at the sides, and all of said parts being folded up on liliesextending transversely or longitudinally, as the case may be,'from theiradjacent slits across the respective parts, with the flanking partsoutside the middle parts, and means to fasten the respective adjacentmiddle and flanking parts together when the folding is completed.

10. In a folding box, a single sheet of material ofgenerally rectangularshape, with slits extending in from its ends and slits extending in fromits sides, substantially equidistant from and on opposite sides,respectively, of longitudinal and transverse median lines, leavingmiddle parts and flanking parts at the ends and sides of the sheet, withthe adjacent side and end flanking parts integral, the side flankingparts projecting laterally less than the width of the respective middleparts at the sides, and all of said parts being folded up on linesextending transversely or longitudinally, as the case maybe, from theiradjacent slits across the respective parts, with the flanking partsOutside the middle parts, said end middle parts also having transversedownward folds whereby upward extensions are formed, to meet whentheother folds are completed, and said end flanking parts being cut awayon their outer 20 WILLIAM G. KITT.

Witnesses CLARENCE PERDEW, JAMES N. RAMSEY.

